Keep on running

by Colin B Robertson

A few weeks ago, chatting to a student in the London College of Comminication Darkroom Bar about sport here at UAL, he said: "I used to play when I was younger, I could have been a semi pro."

He paused, taking another sip of his pint, "Too late now though," he lamented a wry smile appearing on his face, "I'm too old." It was an off the cuff remark. I asked him how old he was, "19" he answered.

What would veteran athletes Rosemary Chrimes, Mary Wixey or indeed any of the other millions of veteran athletes worldwide think about this remark?

I even spared him the unerring details of my own, turbulent, 28-year-old sporting career. It seems, you can lead a student to the bar, but you can't make him think.

I first met Rosemary Chrimes in the summer of this year. She was attempting a world record for high jump. She had just equalled a British record.

I sat on a bench nearby and tried to blend in as she narrowly missed her first attempt. She was agonisingly close for the final attempt too.

"That's the thing about jumping," she jovially remarked, "It always ends in failure."

Even so, clearing a height of one meter 15 when you are 75 could give a new meaning to the saying, "age is no barrier."

Super Gran

Upon hearing I was a journalist I was sent in her direction by a number of officials at the Midlands Open Masters Athletics Championships, in Solihull. Chrimes had broken the world record for shot put and set a new British record in the 100m that day, one could only muse to comprehend. "She's amazing," many people told me.

I offered my commiserations and congratulations to the athlete - an elegant, strong lady with a pleasant manner. Would she try again, I asked? "Oh yes, I should think so," detecting a subtle Scottish accent, she told me she is from Kielso, which she explained: "is on the borders."

To get an interview with her was difficult, she was busy. Admittedly, I was unprepared - I had attended the event out of curiosity.

Another character was to be found around the high jump area. A short gentleman, with charismatic features, dressed in a blue tracksuit with a baseball cap, his greying hair curled out the sides. A plucky personality, full of spontaneity and obviously a friend of RC. "She's done lots of things... A women of many talents..." he quirked and remarked.

"What do you want to know?"

Between the two of them, they arranged for the gentleman to explain all. "He" she said, "will tell you everything you need to know," packing her belongings, she pulled her tracksuit on over her Lycra and headed off towards the other end of the track.

Myself and the gentleman followed at a slower pace. He explained, "She's a remarkable athlete who is always in the pursuit of perfection," he explained "She won gold in the discuss at the 1970 Commonwealth Games and has become a champion in multiple other events in respective categories - an all round master and team manager for GBR athletics. She is a principle lecturer at Birmingham University and is also a fantastic pianist.." 

We talked for sometime, the gentleman enquired about me and I about him. Although quite closed about his story and his achievements, I learnt he too was a British Champion. He had overcame adversity in his life, but respectfully, he wishes to remain anonymous.

Three time World Discus Champion

He introduced me to another athlete, Kevin Brown, three time World Discus Champion. Brown is as strapping as they come, a real man mountain, and a newly wed to boot to a lady he met when competing in Japan.

He has had a couple of years off to set up his gym in Walsall, called ISIS. Now competing in the men's 40-44 category, he told me he was: "still looking to break the 3As Masters British Record." He believes "Discipline is the key" to carry on competing. Being the first man to throw 60m in the over 45's category: "Will be my ultimate goal," he explained.

It was fascinating to meet these characters, people who have continued relentlessly to pursue their goals. It seems their work is never done and that is what drives them.

This is masters athletics, where techniques and the art of each events are honed and perfected. Athletes become coaches and pass on their techniques, improved with age, reflection and practice - I can see how the sport keeps evolving and records keep falling at the top level.

39th British Open Masters Athletics Championships

At the 39th British Open Masters Athletics Championships, I spoke to Bridgitte Cushion, the honorary secretary of the British Masters Athletic Federation. "The Federation was fully established in 1975," not long after the first ever international veteran athletics meeting at Crystal Palace in 1972, "It has become the most successful section of British Athletics."

She proudly told, "The people are self-motivated, the organisation of competitions are by its own members. It is non-government funded as Masters sport is not recognised by the government, yet this will be the biggest athletic competition in Britain this year."

There is certainly a lot to get through, 25 events by 12 age bands in each sex. We sat and watched as the final runners for the Men's 75-79 and 80-84 category finished their 5000m race.

There are many stories to be told amongst this wonderful community. Each athlete must receive recognition, at least for being inspirational to people who feel like giving up.

One of the most notable athletes that day was 88-year-old, multiple British record holder, Mary Wixey.

Competing in no less than five events. I had noticed her previously, collecting medals at the Midlands Masters. Cushion reliably informed me she would be heading to the World Masters Championships in Lahti, Finland.

100m, British, Bronze medalist, Polly Gerner, had just won the gold medal in the Women's 50-54s at the Midland Masters, "I'm really happy today as I felt I could have done better at the nationals".

Gerner was a late starter in athletics and it is a source of motivation. "My mum says now, I thought you were really fast when you were younger... but my family were not really into sport, so I was never pushed to compete."

At closer inspection, Chrime's story is a great tale of patience and persistence, she has gotten stronger with age.

She had always been a very talented thrower. Her record discuss throw at 35-39 was the 22nd furthest of all time. She made the top ten in the 40-44s, eventually making World Record status in the 70-74 and 75-79 categories, while other competitors fell away.

It is a similar story in the shot put where she finished fourth of all time in the 65-69's. Germany's Sigrun Kofink, recorded the top throw but by the 70-74s the tables turned. Chrimes took the top spot and Kofink had sank to fourth. A similar pattern emerged in the high jump competition. No doubt, a certain Mary Wixey will be checking over her shoulder as Chrimes approaches new age bands. Her British records currently stand a plenty.

I saw RC one more time as I was about to leave the track, she told me she was most happy with her British 100m record. "I've always been a thrower," she said smiling happily, "It was a last-minute decision to run actually but now we'll have to see for the future." Masters 100m runners, watch this space.

The Masters World Indoor Championships will be held in Kamloops, Canada next year. Visit: www.kamloops2010masters.com.

Information on British Masters competitions can be found www.bvaf.org.uk/index.asp.